WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The top-seeded University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's basketball team defeated ninth-seeded Monks of Saint Joseph's College of Maine (SJC), 95-45, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) tournament quarterfinal at the O'Connell Center Wednesday night.

With the victory, USJ - ranked 12th nationally - improves to 24-1 overall on the season and will host fourth-seeded Anna Maria College in the GNAC semifinals on Friday February 25, at 7:00 p.m.

GAME INFORMATION

Score: #9 Saint Joseph's (Me.) 45, #1 Saint Joseph (Conn.) 95

Records: SJC (9-18), USJ (24-1)

Location: O'Connell Athletic Center | West Hartford, Conn.

Notes: GNAC Quarterfinals

The Blue Jays have won four straight GNAC Tournament games dating back to the 2019-20 season and are 6-2 in program history in postseason play (0-1 in NCAA Tournament).

Senior guard Ryan O'Neill (Litchfield, Conn.) was the high-man on the night with a playoff career-high 18 points who made six three-pointers (6-7 3FG) in the triumph. Seniors Chaylyn Martin (Hartford, Conn.) Jordan Powell (Middletown, Conn.) added 14 points apiece on the evening.

Saint Joseph's had trouble with the relentless perimeter pressure by the Blue Jays, as senior guards Nicholas Curtis (Windham, Maine) and Griffin Foley (Portland, Maine) entered the night as the top scoring duo in the GNAC (37.5 PPG) but were held to a combined 13 points on 5-of-21 shooting (3-10 3FG).

Junior forward Drew Shea (Mount Desert Island, Maine) was a bright spot for the Monks, scoring a team-high 11 points and hauling in six rebounds.

COURTESY OF USJ SPORTS INFORMATION

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